There is growing interest in the role of migrants' social networks as sources of social capital. Networks are, however, often conceptualized rather loosely and insufficient attention has been paid to how migrants access existing networks or establish new ties in the `host' society.The assumption that migrants are able to access dense networks within close-knit local communities simplifies the experiences of newly arrived migrants, underestimating difficulties they may face in accessing support. Exploring the work of Putnam, as well as Coleman and Bourdieu, we critically engage with the conceptualization of bonding and bridging social capital, and the relationship between them, through an exploration of Polish migrants' networking skills and strategies. In examining the different types and levels of support derived through social ties, this article contributes to understandings of social networking by arguing for a greater differentiation and specification of networks both vertically and horizontally, but also spatially and temporally.
Barbalet, J.M. (2000) `Vagaries of Social Capital: Citizenship, Trust and Loyalty', in E. Vasta (ed.) Citizenship, Community and Democracy, pp. 91-106. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
2.
Berry, J., Y. Poortinga, M. Segall and P. Dasen (1992) Cross-Cultural Psychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
3.
Bott, E. (2002[1956]) `Urban Families: Conjugal Roles and Social Networks', reprinted in J. Scott (ed.) Social Networks, pp. 331-72. New York: Routledge .
4.
Bourdieu, P. (1986) `The Forms of Capital', in J. Richardson (ed.) Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education, pp. 241-58. New York: Greenwood Press.
5.
Boyd, M. (1989) `Family and Personal Networks in International Migration', International Migration Review23(3): 638-70.
6.
Brimicombe, A.J. (2007) `Ethnicity, Religion and Residential Segregation in London', Environment and Planning B34(5): 884-904.
7.
Castles, S. and M. Miller (2003) The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
8.
Coleman, J.S. (1990) Foundations of Social Theory. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
9.
Cox, E. (2000) `Diversity and Community: Conflict and Trust?' , in E. Vasta (ed.) Citizenship, Community and Democracy, pp. 71-90. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
10.
Eade, J., M. Garapich and S. Drinkwater (2006) Class and Ethnicity: Polish Migrants in London . London: CRONEM, University of Roehampton.
11.
Evergeti, V. and E. Zontini (2006) `Some Critical Reflections on Social Capital, Migration and Transnational Families', Ethnic and Racial Studies29(6): 1025-39.
12.
Faist, T. and E. Ozveren (eds) (2004) Transnational Social Spaces: Agents, Networks and Institutions. Aldershot: Ashgate.
13.
Granovetter, M. (2002[1973]) `The Strength of Weak Ties' , reprinted in J. Scott (ed.) Social Networks, pp. 60-80. New York: Routledge .
14.
Griffiths, D., N. Sigona, R. Zetter and D. Sigona (2005) Refugee Community Organizations and Dispersal: Networks, Resources and Social Capital. Bristol: The Policy Press.
15.
Hellermann, C. (2006) `Migrating Alone: Tackling Social Capital? Women from Eastern Europe in Portugal', Ethnic and Racial Studies29(6): 1135-52.
16.
Jordan, B. and F. Duvell (2003) Migration: The Boundaries of Equality and Justice . Cambridge: Polity.
17.
Kelly, P. and T. Lusis (2006) `Migration and the Transnational Habitus: Evidence from Canada and the Philippines', Environment and Planning A38(5): 831-48.
18.
Leonard, M. (2004) `Bonding and Bridging Social Capital: Reflections from Belfast', Sociology38(5): 927-44.
19.
Morgan, D.L. (1990) `Combining the Strengths of Social Networks, Social Support and Personal relationships', in S. Duck and R. Cohen Silver (eds) Personal Relationships and Social Support, pp. 190-215. London: SAGE.
20.
Morris, L. (2003) `Managing Contradiction: Civic Stratification and Migrants' Rights', International Migration Review37(1): 74-100.
21.
Oakley, A. (1992) Social Support and Motherhood. Oxford: Blackwell.
22.
Portes, A. (ed.) (1995) The Economic Sociology of Immigration. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
23.
Putnam, R.D. (2000) Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York: Simon and Schuster .
24.
Putnam, R.D. (2007) `"E Pluribus unum": Diversity and Community in the Twenty-first Century. The 2006 Johan Skytte Prize Lecture', Scandinavian Political Studies30(2): 137-74.
25.
Putnam, R.D., R. Leonardi and R.Y. Nanetti (1993) Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
26.
Ryan, L. (2004) `Family Matters; (E)migration, Familial Networks and Irish Women in Britain', Sociological Review52(3): 351-70.
27.
Ryan, L. (2007) `Migrant Women, Social Networks and Motherhood: The Experiences of Irish Nurses in Britain', Sociology41(2): 295-312.
28.
Temple, B. (1995) `"Gatherers of Pig-swill and Thinkers": Gender and Community Amongst British Poles', Journal of Gender Studies4(1): 63-72.
29.
Vertovec, S. (2001) `Transnational Social Formations: Towards Conceptual Crossfertilisation', Oxford: WPTC-01-16. Paper presented at workshop on `Transnational Migration: Comparative Perspectives', 30 June-1 July, Princeton University.
30.
Wallace, C. (2002) `Opening and Closing Borders: Migration and Mobility in East-Central Europe', Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies28(4): 603-25.
31.
Wellman, B. (2002[1979]) `The Community Question: The Intimate Networks of East Yorkers', reprinted in J. Scott (ed.) Social Networks, pp. 390-420. New York: Routledge.
32.
Wierzbicki, S. (2004) Beyond the Immigrant Enclave: Network Change and Assimilation. New York: LFB Scholarly Publishing.
33.
Williams, L. (2006) `Social Networks of Refugees in the UK', Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies32 (5): 865-79.
34.
Willmott, P. (1987) Friendship Networks and Social Support. London: Policy Studies Institute.
